Timber-laden trucks travel from Laos to Vietnam through the Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An Province. Photo credit: Kien Thuc

Traffic police in the central province of Nghe An have confiscated eight Laos-registered trucks allegedly laden with smuggled timber.

The fleet was found parked on the roadside on National Highway 7 in Nghe An’s Chuong Duong District at around 10 p.m. Tuesday, Kien Thuc news website reported.

The police had received a tip-off about the trucks and lay in wait near the spot.

When asked to produce papers, the Laotian truck drivers refused.

The following day the officers escorted all the trucks to a bus station in nearby Do Luong District. The investigation is continuing.

The police said the trucks had brought the timber from Laos to Vietnam via the Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An.

Phan Huy Chuong, deputy chief inspector of the province Department of Transport, said dozens of Laotian trucks with timber are hiding on small roads off National Highway 7 to avoid Vietnamese traffic police.

He said more officers have been stationed on the highway to tackle the problem.